Lucknow: Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences (RMLIMS) is set to enhance its cardiac care services with the installation of one more catheterisation (cath) lab and a TMT machine.
Expected to be operational within three to four months, this will help reduce waiting time for heart patients.
The lab will be established with Rs 7.77 crore, which was recently approved by the govt. Prof Bhuwan Tiwari, head of the cardiology department, said the institute currently has two cath labs, and with the addition of a third, the number of daily cardiac procedures will increase from 25 to 40.
“This expansion will not only ease the burden on existing facilities but also provide quicker access to life-saving treatments, which often take 24 to 48 hours, even in emergency situations,” he said.
A cath lab is a specialised facility where minimally invasive procedures are performed to diagnose and treat heart diseases. These include coronary angiography to check for artery blockages, angioplasty to open narrowed arteries, pacemaker implantation for irregular heartbeats, and valvuloplasty to repair damaged heart valves. With the addition of the third cath lab, emergency cases, such as heart attack patients, will receive faster intervention, significantly improving survival rates.
The institute will also install a TMT machine at a cost of Rs 45 lakh. The TMT machine, also known as a stress test, is used to assess heart function during physical exertion. It helps diagnose coronary artery disease, exercise-induced arrhythmias, and other heart conditions that may not be visible in a resting state. Patients walk or run on a treadmill while their heart activity is monitored, allowing doctors to detect abnormalities and recommend early treatment. With this new machine, RMLIMS will enhance its diagnostic capabilities and reduce dependency on external centres for such tests.
“With these additions, we aim to strengthen our cardiac care services, reduce patient waiting times, and improve emergency response. This initiative will make advanced heart treatment more accessible to patients in Lucknow and surrounding areas,” said RMLIMS director Prof CM Singh.
